Delightful Downtowns: Surry County’s Main Streets Are Thriving

Forward-thinking development, preservation bring life to main streets.

Picture a charming American main street or historic town square, and chances are you’ll conjure a mental image that looks a lot like one of the downtowns in Surry County. Home to the tight-knit and friendly communities of Mount Airy, Elkin, Dobson and Pilot Mountain, Surry County’s walkable and lively downtowns are beloved by locals and tourists alike.

Sip and Savor

Thanks to recently designated social districts in Mount Airy, Elkin and Pilot Mountain, it’s perfectly legal (and encouraged!) to stroll the sidewalk with a glass of wine in hand while popping into different shops and galleries and listening to live music.

“All of our downtowns have a historic designation, and they’re all walkable,” says Leslie Schlender, economic development director for the Town of Elkin. “We have made a point with our venues and assets across the county to embrace nightlife, music and the arts.”

Frequent community events and festivals provide even more reason to get out and about, from art walks to outdoor concerts to food truck roundups. The area may be known for its wine (Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area was North Carolina’s first federally recognized wine-growing region), but several new breweries are sure to please hops lovers, too.

Improving and Preserving

Surry County’s charming downtowns have made intentional investments and development decisions in recent years – and the strategy is paying off.

In Dobson, the 2.5-acre Dobson Square Park features an amphitheater, splash pad and a new mural that has become a popular selfie spot.

“Dobson understands the importance of growing the downtown economy to leverage investments, create jobs and improve quality of life for its citizens,” says Travis Frye, tourism coordinator with the Dobson & Surry County Tourism Development Authority.

Mount Airy may be famous for its historic storefronts and charming streets, but it’s also looking to the future with a focus on infrastructure, facade improvements and new housing units. On weekends, the Market Street Arts & Entertainment District transforms a section of downtown into a pedestrian-only gathering spot, featuring food, music, art and local vendors.

Downtown Elkin is building on its momentum as a prime arts and outdoors destination, adding new signage to assist pedestrians and cyclists, facilitating facade improvements for historic buildings, and creating beautification and public art projects, including a rotating sculpture program. Also, Explore Elkin has funded an ongoing roster of live music and outdoor concerts that have been embraced by the community.

Pilot Mountain’s revitalization efforts are also on display downtown, with 32 new housing

units added in 2024-25 along with $2.3 million in private investment. The downtown area offers restaurants, art galleries, antique shops and a growing number of murals and public art for all to enjoy.